Cover-securing means for collapsible boxes



April 21, 1931. p s, RUMPEL 1,801,389

COVER SECURING MEANS FOR COLLAPS IBLE BOXES Filed Dec. 13 1923 VkZNTQR BY PM v llum f ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 21 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL STEVEN RUMPEL, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB 'I'O MOLITOR BOX COM- PANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION. OF WISCONSIN COVER-SECURING MEANS FOR GOLLALPSIBLE BOXES Application filed December 13, 1928. Serial No. 325,847.

This invention relates to improvements in cover securing means for collapsible boxes.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a collapsible or folding box formed from a one-piece paper or pasteboard blank and so arranged that the box may be held in its set-up condition with the cover closedsolely by reason of the engagement of ;various of the box portions and because of m locking means for the cover securing it to other portions of the box.

A further ob'ect of the invention is to provide a folding box of the class described having means, when the box is set-up, for locking the parts in position, and particularly for securing the cover of the box in closed position, eliminating the necessity for string or other securing means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a one-piece, centrally longitudinally creased folding box having cooperating tongue and slot means for securing the box cover in closed position when the box [is set-up. A further object of the invention is to provide a folding-box'of the class described so arranged that it can be manufactured and slipped in a collapsed or knocked-down con- 7 dition to the customer who is not required to so perform any mechanical operations on the same to put it into condition for use as a container.

A further object of the invention is to pro- .vide a collapsible box with cover securing means which is of very simple construction. is inexpensive to manufacture, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved collapsible box with cover securing means, and its parts and combinations as set'forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the box blank; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the box in its set-up condition and on a smaller 56 scale;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 38 of Fig. 2; t

Fig. 4 is a view of the box in its collapsed or knocked-down condition;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the box in its setup condition; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating the tongue and slot securing means for the cover.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that the box blank shown in Fig. 1 is of one piece and is formed with the following portions:

A top 10, a top front flap 11,-top end flaps 12, a back 18, complementary end portions 14, a bottom 15, bottom inner end flaps 16, a front 17 and complementary end portions 18. It will be noted that the top end flaps 12 are separated from the complementary end portions 14 by means of V-shaped slots 19,

while the bottom end flaps are separated from the complementary end portions 14 and the complementary endportions 18 by slits or cuts 20 and 21, respectively. The top front flaps and the top end flaps are adapted to be folded with respect to the top along scored fold lines 22. and 23 respectively. The back 13 folds along a scored line 24 and the complementary ends 14 fold from said back along fold lines 25. The bottom spectto the back along the scored line 26, and

' the bottom end flaps fold upwardly on fold lines 27. Also, a scored line 28 extends longi tudinally medially through said bottom and the bottom end flaps 16. The front 17 folds along a scored line 29 and the complementary end portions 18 fold sidewise on lines .30. Also, these latter portions are formed near their ends with scored lines31 which are brought into use when the box is in a folded or collapsed condition.

In making a collapsible box from the blank, the front and back 17 and 13 are folded upwardly with respect to the bottom 15, and then the two sets of complementary end portions 14 and 18 are folded sidewise and the portions 18 overlap the portions 14 the distance between the edges of the portions 18 15 folds with re and the fold lines 31. Then the overlapped portions of said members 14 and 18 are secured together by glue or any other suitable medium. Said portions thus connected form outer ends for the box. The bottom end flaps 16 are next folded upwardly against the outer ends formed by the complementary portions 14 and 18. Then, the cover 10 of the box is closed and in so doing the cover end flaps 12 are folded so as to depend and are inserted between the outer ends and the bottom inner end flaps 16. Also, the front flap 11 of the box is inserted inwardly of the front 17. It should be observed that the bottom end flaps 16 are maintained in vertical set-up position by friction means such as small end tabs 32 which bear against the front 17 and rear 13 respectively of the box.

A articular feature of the invention resides 1n the provision of means for lockingly retaining the cover in closed position when the box is set up preventing undesired opening of the box cover, and assisting in retaining the box in closed position. For this purpose the box end portions 18 are provided with semi-circular tongues 33 adapted to be pushed inwardly, and in register with said tongues, the depending end flaps 12 of the cover are provided with U-shaped slots 34. The result of this arrangement is that when the box is set up and the cover closed, as preuiously described, with the cover end flaps 12 adjacent the surfaces of the outer complementary ends 14 and 18, the tongues 33, by an inward pressure, may be engaged in the slots 84. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig 7 and the cover can not be raised because of the en agement of the tongues in said slots. Opening of the cover can only be eflected if the tongues are pushed outwardly to disengage the tongues from the lots, The box, in the set-up condition with the cover secured in closed position, forms a strong and secure container for commodities of various kinds, and the need for string or other means for holding the cover in closed position is eliminated.

For shipment or for storage prior to use, it' is desirable to collapse the box, and this is done merely by 0 ening the cover and folding the bottom en flaps 16 against the bot tom 15, and the bottom and said flaps fold longitudinally a ainst each other alon the line 28 and are isposed flat with the front and rear of the box. Also, the complementary end portions 18 fold with respect to the portions 14 along the lines 31. The cover end aps 12 fold outwardly parallel wit-h the top of the box, and the cover front flap 11 folds ainst the folded bottom port-ion of the box. 7 3m; folded arrangement is shown in Figs 4 and 5 and the box as thus collapsed is very Get and compact.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that. the improved box in its set-up con- E his dition, is very substantial and the simple cover locking means provided permits the guick securement of the box in its set-up conition eliminating the necessity of any additional cover securing or fastening means. Also the improved collapsible box with the cover securing means is of very simple and novel construction and is well adapted for the )urposes described.

\ hat I claim as my invention is:

1. A collapsible box foldable from a onepiece blank, comprising a bottom portion, front and rear portions extending from the side edges thereof, pairs of connected outer end flaps extending from the front and rear portions, inner end flaps extending from the end portions of the bottom adjacent said outer end flaps, a cover extending from the upper edge of the rear portion, cover end flaps depending from the ends of the cover and insertable between said outer end flaps and said inner end flaps, the outer end flaps and the cover end flaps being formed with complementary tongue and slot securing means, all of said portions being foldable with respect to adjacent portions, and the bottom inner end flaps and outer end flaps being longitudinally foldable medially upon themselves.

2. A collapsible box foldable from a onepiere blank, comprising connected side, Outer end and bottom portions forming a body, and an integral cover having inner ends depending therefrom, the outer end portions and the cover inner ends being formed with complementary securing means, all of said portions being foldable with respect to adjacent portions, and the outer end and bottom portions being longitudinally foldable medially upon themselves.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my si nature.

PAUL STEVEN RmfiEL. 

